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13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.(A) 14 And just as Moses lifted up[a] the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,(B) 15 [b]so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave[c] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.(C) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[d] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:14 Lifted up: in Nm 21:9, Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all.
  2. 3:15 Eternal life: used here for the first time in John, this term stresses quality of life rather than duration.
  3. 3:16 Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
  4. 3:17–19 Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.